Relationships among quality of life, self-care, and affiliated individuation in persons on chronic warfarin therapy

This descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional study explored the relationships among the variables self-care action, self-care knowledge, and affiliated individuation and quality of life for persons on chronic warfarin therapy. This study also explored the moderating effects of self-care knowledge and affiliated individuation on quality of life. This research was guided by a theoretical framework based on modeling and role-modeling theory (Erickson, Tomlin, & Swain, 1983). The sample consisted of 83 adults between the ages of 30 to 91 years. The majority of participants were Caucasian, educated, retired and almost evenly distributed between male and female. Each subject completed the following instruments: the Oral Anticoagulation Knowledge (OAK) test, the Duke Anticoagulation Satisfaction Scale (DASS), the Basic Needs Satisfaction Inventory (BNSI), and the generic quality of life survey (SF36v2). Data was analyzed using correlation and hierarchical multiple regression analysis. Results indicated significant correlations among most of the study variables. Self-care action significantly explained variances in all but two quality of life variables. Self-care knowledge and affiliated individuation had statistically significant moderating effects on the DASS negative impact and hassles/burdens subscales. Self-care knowledge also demonstrated a significant moderating effect on the SF36v2 physical function subscale. These findings support the concepts proposed by the study's theoretical framework. This research serves as validation of Acton's (1997) study findings for the concept of affiliated individuation and its value as a self-care resource in a specific clinical population.